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The Most Rejuvenating Natural Hot Springs Around the World

Sometimes, in an effort to climb that mountain, see that sight, and eat at that restaurant, we end up needing a vacation from our vacation. Not so at nature’s own super spa: the hot spring. These mineral-rich waters from Palm Springs to Chilean Patagonia have nourished for centuries; there's no better way to soak your body and free your mind.

The Most Rejuvenating Natural Hot Springs Around the World

Sometimes, in an effort to climb that mountain, see that sight, and eat at that restaurant, we end up needing a vacation from our vacation. Not so at nature’s own super spa: the hot spring. These mineral-rich waters from Palm Springs to Chilean Patagonia have nourished for centuries; there's no better way to soak your body and free your mind.

The Spring, Palm Springs, California

Taking a dip in a warm pool of water in the middle of the desert may not seem that refreshing, but remember: The hotter the water, the greater the mineral content. The water at The Spring is said to be some of the most restorative in America, rich with minerals such as sodium chloride (helps with joint pain) and sulfur (reduces inflammation). Starting off as snow melt from the mountains, the water runs underground until it bubbles back up at 170 degrees. It is then cooled to three different temperatures in three separate pools surrounded by both palm trees and snow-capped mountains.

Baden-Baden, Germany

This small German town on the edge of the Black Forest has been drawing people to its curative hot springs for centuries. Up from some 6,500 feet below, the water from these 12 springs can relax and regenerate the body: Lithium, cesium, silica, boric acid, and magnesium will defuse any cardiovascular, metabolic, and respiratory problems, while the heat helps with circulation and relieves pain in muscles and joints. The Caracalla Spa, which has springs that are between 12,000 and 17,000 years old, is built around Roman bath ruins and has a saltwater inhalation room (to help clear mucous membranes). The Friedrichsbad Baths sit atop Roman bath ruins (it has Roman walls to prove it) and follows a 17-step Roman ritual, which includes a series of hot baths, steam rooms, and brush massages.

Fontana, Iceland

Bathing in hot springs is an Icelandic tradition that’s been around since the Vikings. Skip the overcrowded Blue Lagoon, which has become the Times Square of Icelandic pools, and make your way to the lesser known spa, Laugarvatn Fontana. It has views of Lake Laugarvatn and, if you’re lucky, the Northern Lights.

The village of Laugarvatn was established following the discovery of the hot springs; the water could be used for cooking and bathing, and the local municipality uses it for geothermal house heating. In addition to the three outdoor pools, there are steam baths, which locals have been enjoying since 1929. Built over natural hot springs, the steam simmers up through the grids of the cabin floors, creating a steam bath—ideal after a day of hiking through the wild Icelandic landscape.

Dunton Hot Springs, Dolores, Colorado

A ghost town turned luxe resort in the San Juan National Forest, Dunton Hot Springs is romantic Americana at its best: cozy log cabins, steaming hot spring pools, and Rocky Mountain views. This former mining town now draws the well-heeled with its pools of iron-, manganese-, and lithium-rich water. In addition to the outdoor pools (one of which is on the river), there is a 19th-century indoor bathhouse, plus two private pools for guests staying in the Dunton Store and Well House cabins. Come sun, rain, or snow: The pools are open year-round.

The Green Leaf Onsen, Niseko Village, Japan

In a volcano-covered country like Japan, bathing in an onsen (Japanese hot spring) is very much a part of the culture. Onsens are believed to have healing powers (it's that high mineral content again), while bathing in a naked communion helps break down barriers between people. After a hard day of skiing in the small ski village of Niseko, there is nothing more therapeutic than luxuriating in a natural rock pool with 104 degree water. In true Japanese tradition, the pools don’t allow bathing suits, but the water feeds into indoor and outdoor onsens separated for gender. With pine trees and snow-covered boulders as the backdrop, these pools are as good for your body as they are for your mind.

Therme Vals, Switzerland

Trust Switzerland to boast the most sophisticated springs. Therme Vals is a chic, minimalist hotel and bathhouse in the small Swiss alpine village of Vals, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor. Originally opened in 1893 as a bathhouse, the space was reborn in 1996 as a hotel-and-hot springs getaway. Sitting over the only thermal springs in the Graubünden district, Therme Vals was built with stones from the surrounding area and mimic a quarry-like structure, fitting seamlessly into the mountainous landscape.

The Banjaran, Malaysia

Hidden in a valley surrounded by tropical rainforest and dramatic limestone hills, the Banjaran Hot Spring Retreat is ideal for those who want to completely disconnect from the outside world. The grounds are home to hot springs and naturally formed limestone caves that fill with steam. Submerge in a private plunge pool or hot spring tub filled with geothermal water, or enjoy one of the two indoor geothermal pools on the property, one of which is concealed in a cave. The water temperature is around 104 degrees and contains calcium, lithium, and sulfur, which are known to reduce pain caused by arthritis.

Puyuhuapi, Chile

On the edge of Dorita Bay in a remote region of Chilean Patagonia, Puyuhuapi Hot Springs take mineral-rich water from three different sources: the sea, waterfalls, and thermal springs. There are three large outdoor thermal pools as well as two smaller outdoor pools, one filled with sea water and one filled with mountain water. The thermal water contains minerals used in the spa's signature massage treatment to help with physical fatigue and to calm the mind. But perhaps the most remarkable feature of this retreat its isolation: soothing with its rainforest-covered mountains and views that go on forever.